MEANDERINGS 



AMONG 



A THOUSAND ISLANDS,, 

OR AN ACCOUNT OF 

CAPT. VISGER'S DAILY TRIP 

ON THE 

RIVER ST. LAWRENCE. 



WATERTOWN, N. Y. : ^rv^r^^'^\^''^'^''^ 



TIMES AND REFORMER PRINTrN'O AND PUBUSmNQ HOUSE. 

1881. 



y^:< 



F \-2.i 



MEANDEBINGS AMONG A 



THOUSAND ISLANDS, 



BY THE WANDERER. 



The St. Lawrence is a very monarch of rivers. The rainfalls of 
half a continent, gathered into the largest reservoirs of fresh water 
upon the earth's surface, constitute its sources of supply. The 
€Ourse of its stream for more than seven hundred miles, from Lake 
Ontario to the Gulf, where its vast volume mingles with the Ocean, 
lies between shores, and over soils and rocks whose character 
changes with almost every geological formation known. Scattered 
along its whole length are numerous Islands, whose varied asi)ects 
and formations, as well as the constantly changing appearance of 
its banks, present every variety of natural scenery to the voyager 
upon its waters. 

That portion of the River which extends from Lake Ontario 
down the course of its stream for about fifty miles and which is 
irregularly filled up with Islands, of which the entire number is 
l^robably near two thousand, varying in size from a few feet in di- 
ameter to many miles in extent, was originally termed by the old 
French and Canadian voyagers 

THE LAKE OF A THOUSAND ISLANDS. 

It has a breadth from Kingston, in Canada, to Cape Vincent, on 
the American shore, the direct line being across Long or Wolfe 
Island, which is also about where the waters, in common parlance, 
begin to be designated as "the River," of about ten miles, from 
which it gradually though irregularly diminishes to less than one 
mile, where a ferry now connects the termini of railroads at the 
Canadian town of Brockville, and the village of Morristown on the 
New York side. It is this portion, perhaps more particularly the 



4 THE ISLAND WANDEEEE. 

central and lower parts of it, where the Islands are more closely- 
disposed, which has come to be designated as the "Thousand 
Islands of the St. Lawrence," and which has long been known and 
celebrated by poets and novelists for its singular and natural 
beauty. The Avild forest, intermingled with partial cultivation 
upon its Islands and shores ; the many narrow and torturous chan- 
nels, land-locked bays, with secluded and sheltered nooks among its 
several clusters, alternated with extensive stretches of oi:)en Avater, 
many of which themselves might well be called lakes, all clear 
and pure as the most transparent crystal, jpresent scenes of en- 
chantment, whose beauties are ever changing and never wearying 
to the eye of the beholder. 



^ 




THE STEAMER " ISLAND IVANDERER." 

It is a region, which, while multitudes have desired to visit, and 
in fact of which many have caught partial glimpses in the hasty pas- 
sage of the old St. Lawrence Steamers down the usually navigated 
channels, yet comparatively few have been able entirely to explore. 
The time and expense required to traverse all its multiplied chan- 
nels, and the meager facilities within reach for doing so, have, until 



THE ISLAND WANDERER. O 

very recently, effectually concealed many of its most delightful 
views from the observation of the multitudes who desired to see 
them. Within a few years and largely by the efforts of 

CAPT. E. W. YISGER, 

a life long resident of the vicinity, who has constantly endeavored 
to extend the excursions of his Steam Yachts, many of the more 
interesting and less frequented localities have been brought to the 
delighted vision of thousands who otherwise had never come within 
their reach. 

The very best and most satisfactory view that can possibly be 
obtained, in a short time, of the wonderful beauty here so lavishly 
displayed is undoubtedly to be had in taking an excursion on one 
of the trips of this Steam Yacht. 

THE "ISLAND WANDERER" 

Has been built and arranged with the express purpose of affording 
the best facilities for visiting the scenery among the Islands. 
AYhile, of course, it is not pretended to pass through every channel 
and to give a view of every Island, or even to embrace the whole 
extent of all these several magnificent clusters, the trip does pre- 
sent in its entire compass of about forty miles, and in a general 
view, the more prominent features of the most interesting portions, 
such as is not to be had so satisfactorily in any other way. Nor 
in fact, is it to be obtained at all in any way, excej)t by the employ- 
ment, at large expense of 

PRIYATE YACHTS. 

These from their smaller sizes are able to enter the narrower channels, 
and so to visit the several localities in more particular detail, yet 
from their smaller elevation above the water fail to present the 
more extended panoramas, the views of which are obtained from 
the higher deck of the Wanderer, and very often also they occupy 
several days in exploring the ground traversed by her in a single 
trip. If one has leisure and means at command, it would un- 
doubtedly be pleasant and interesting, after obtaining the general 
view of which we have spoken, to visit with smaller boats and 
more particularly to explore the narrower channels and more 
secluded nooks, occasionally taking a bass or pickerel for picnic 
dinner from the well known fishing grounds of which we catch the 



6 THE ISLAND WANDERER. 

most delightful though more transient giimj)ses from the deck of 
the Wanderer. 

We take it for granted that no one who visits these now cele- 
brated Islands will wish to leave them without participating at 
least once (and many go made times without failure of interest) in 
the enjoyment of this excursion, and as it will be regarded by 
many persons as desirable to preserve some memento of so delight- 
ful an experience, this little account of the trip, with some local 
and historical information in regard to prominent places and 
objects of interest which it brings to view has been prepared^ 
which in connection with the 

MAP OF THE ROUTE 

and the adjacent portions of the river (of which copies are for sale 
on the boat) will both serve the immediate purpose of giving such 
information as is often desired, and afterward of preserving their 
features in the memory of those who have enjoyed the excursion. 

As the boat stops briefly at the principal summer resorts on her 
route among the Islands, the visitor may commence his journey at 
any convenient j)oint. The time table and fares are so arranged 
as to give every one the entire round, and generally if desired to 
stop over a few hours at any of the landings between the trips and 
resume his journey on the return of the boat, all in one day and 
for a single moderate fare. 

The trip proper, however, commences at the village of 

ALEXANDRIA BAY, 

which seems to be a sort of central headquarters for most of the 
various movements of the summer life among the Islands, although 
it is perhaps true that hundreds who have reached only some of 
the upi^er parks sup^Dose (we think however erroneously) that they 
have seen the Thousand Islands, when, in fact, they have never 
yet set eyes on the loveliness which surrounds this most charming 
of all their sunmier resorts. For the sake then of following the 
entire route in regular order, we will make this our 

STARTING POINT, 

and begin our account with the departure of the boat from her 
dock in front of Cornwall Brother's stone store. I do not pro- 
pose to give any lengthened description of the village and its 



THE ISLAND WANDEREK. T 

famous hotels. Tliis is to be found in the Hotel Guide Books, and 
as this little book is supposed to be in the hands of those who 
either have had or will have opportunity to see these for them- 
selves, the labor of description may well be spared. Of the village 
itself, it may be of some interest to the curious in the local anti- 
quarian history, to note that its site was selected so far back as 
1804 by a surveyor for 

JAMES LE RAY DE CHAUMONT. 

This gentleman was the son of a distinguished French nobleman, 
and left the court of France toward the close of the last century 
and settled in this county. Whether or not it was in anticipa- 
tion of the political troubles then brewing, and which a few years 
later eventuated in the bloody scenes of the French revolution, we 
cannot certainly say, but it is a well-known historical fact that 
then and soon afterward there was a very considerable French 
immigration to this and other points contiguous to the St. Law- 
rence. De Chaumont became a j^roprietor of extensive tracts of 
land in Jefferson county, and it was under his auspices that this 
town and others were first permanently settled. He gave his 
name and the names of various members of his family to many 
towns and villages, among them that of his son Alexander to 
Alexandria. He was long known as a very popular and public- 
spirited citizen, who not only encouraged settlement and improve- 
ment upon his own lands, but identified himself with all the 
interests of the country of his temporary adoption, but finally 
returned to his estates in France about 1810. 

Alexandria Bay was chosen as the most feasible locality along 
this part of the river for a 

PORT OF ENTRY 

for a considerable section of the adjacent country, being, in fact, 
the only good harbor easily accessible between Clayton and Mor- 
ristown, a distance of about thirty-four miles. In the very early 
settlement it had a considerable trade in timber and staves, of 
which vast quantities were collected every season in the sheltered 
waters on either side of the village. I have thought of this as the 
probable origin of the familiar cognomen by which the little set- 
tlement has been so long known. The place where the principal 
produce of their industry was carried to be sold or bartered was 
really a "bay," although which of two it would be difficult now 



-8 THE ISLAND WANDEEEE. 

to decide. So short and easy a title naturally transferred itself to 
the whole settlement, and so the village acquired the soubriquet 
which it seems destined now to retain. The collections of timber 
in various forms, were annually floated by the merchants who 
purchased them in large rafts to the Montreal market. Later, and 
in fact up to about twenty years ago, in the flourishing days of 
the lake navigation, before the steamboats were superseded by the 
railroads on either side of Lake Ontario, it was a place for large 
shipments of produce from the interior. 

Many thousands of bushels of grain and packages of dairy pro- 
ducts found their way to distant markets over its wharves. The 
cutting and gathering of wood for the supi)ly of the Steamboats 
which navigated the Lake and River was also a very important 
industry, the activity of which for a long period gave winter em- 
ployment to a considerable part of the poi)ulation, and enabled 
many to pay for their land. 

But perhajDS we are dwelling too long upon upon these local 
memories of the past, and you will be impatient for the enjoyment 
of the j)resent in the commencement of our promised excursion. 
We will choose the afternoon trip as the one more generally pat- 
ronized from this jDoint, and on flne afternoons, as are most of 
those in summer on the St. Lawrence, it will be a real luxury to 
get away from the hotels and breathe freely the pure ozonic air 
that at this hour is usually fanning the surface of the water to a 
gentle ripple. 

Going on board a few minutes before the hour of starting, we 
may have a brief opportunity to gaze u^^on the 

PANORAMA OF LIFE AND BEAUTY 

which spreads around us. It may be supi}osed that you have not 
failed to notice the magnificent hotels which are just at hand, the 
two larger, the "Thousand Island House" and the "Crossmon,"both 
within a few rods on either side immediately fronting, and the 
well kept grounds extending to the river, and the "St. Lawrence," 
somewhat smaller, but still able to accommodate about 100 guests, 
j ust olDposite us and a block further back. While waiting for the 
boat to start let us take a preliminary view of 

WHAT IS GOING ON ABOUT US. 

The Dock itself presents a busy scene. Lusty porters sweating 
under the enormous loads of baggage going off in the afternoon 



THE ISLAND WAXDKIIER. \) 

boats for the railroads at Cape Vincent and Clayton, and parties 
of ladies and gentlemen hurrying to the same destination. Skiffs 
are gaily flitting in various directions over the river in front, some 
filled with parties of pleasure rowing about for their own amuse- 
ment ; some intent on preparations for fishing ; some i^erhaps 
bringing passengers from tlie Islands in the vicinity, for dejDarture 
by the boats, or X)erhap3 to join rhe Wanderer in her favorite ex- 
cnrsion. 

THE MORE DISTANT SURROUNDINGS 

may Avell also take a moment of our attention. Look right over 
the stern of our boat across the })ay below Crossmon's. On the 
rocky point beyond is 




BONNIE CASTLE, 

the beautiful and unique summer resiCeace of Dr. J. G. Holland, 
whose name you will at once i-ecognize as the accomplished and 
talented editor of Scribner's Magazine, and one of the most cele- 
brated of our American literary men — whom not to know some- 
thing of, especially here at Alexandria Bay, for which he has done 
so much, and where he is so loved and honored, were a display of 
ignorance not lightly to be confessed. The Doctor thinks this part 



10 THE ISLAND WANDEEEE. 

of the St. Lawrence, if not the most beautiful, yet "the sweetest 
spot on earth," and no doubt the high excellence of his literary 
work is largely due to the inspiration of the summer breezes which 
for three or four months in the year it gives him so richly to 
enjoy. In front of Bonnie Castle we have 

AN EXTENDED AND MAGNIFICENT VIEW 

down the chaimel of the River, which is studded with Islands that 
seem to tioat like emeralds on a sea of glass. On a few of them are 
small cottages, but they are too distant to be readily distinguished, 
and in fact for the owners of most of them we shall ourselves have 
to refer to the list published in connection with the map. The 
Sunken Rock Light House about half a mile distant, bej'ond 
which lies an Island of some forty acres in its primitive forest con- 
dition, called Deer Island, and the Canadian Light House about 
four miles distant on the head of a large Island known here as 
" Grenadier," you will not fail to see. A little to the left of these 
across the channel of the river, about a mile distant, but still in 
good view, is what is known as 

MANHATTAN ISLAND, 

on which are the tasteful summer residences of Judge Jas. C. 
Spencer, of New York city, and J. L. Hasbrouck. It it the largest 
and central Island of quite a little groui^ which is known as 
"Manhattan group," some of which are connected by rustic 
bridges, and together- are a little paradise. This is the first Island 
on which any one attempted a summer home, 

SETH GREEN, 

now widely known as the fish commissioner of the State of New 
York, built a cottage there, where his family summered and he 
went a-fishing for two or three seasons, about twenty-five years 
ago, and it is a very probable supposition that here he acquired, 
a x>art at least, of the skill in fish-ology which has since become- 
so celebrated and useful. Glancing still around to the left we get 
a glimpse of a small house on elevated ground, which is on 

DESHLER'S, 

a beautiful Island of about fifteen acres, the property of W. G. 
Deshler, Esq., a banker of Columbus, Ohio, one of the early dis- 



THE ISLAND AVANDERER. 11 

coverers of the beaut}'' of the Thousand Islands, who for many 
years has generally made Alexandria Bay his summer quarters. 
The little cottage is for the accommodation of the man who takes 
care of the Island, Mr. Deshler prefering to remain with his family 
at Crossmon's. Still further to the left, and above Deshler' s is 

HART'S ISLAND, 

on the highest point of which, the tower and roof of a large and 
handsome cottage show themselves among the oaks which crown 
the summit. It was erected by the Hon. E. K. Hart, of Albion, 
N. Y., about 1873, but has usually for a few suiamers past been 
occupied by parties from Ogdensburg. Hart' s Island is reputed 
as the i^lace where the Irish poet Moore wrote the celebrated Cana- 
dian Boat Song, early in the present century. The tradition has 
this foundation, that the published works of Moore mention it 
as having been written on the St. Lawrence, as also one other of 
his poems, and since this establishes the fact that he visited the 
Islands somewhere, the song is just as likely to have been compos- 
ed here as anywhere else, Avhich is probably about all there is of it. 
Away past the head of Hart' s Island and quite across a larger 
intervening stretch of water on the other side of it, we get a view 
of several cottages in the forest on 

WESTMINSTER PARK 

which occupies five hundred acres of the lower point of Wells 
Island. You will also notice the long dock built for the use of the 
Park on this side, and some distance back from the shore, the spire 
of Bethune Chapel crowning the high wooded knoll where it shows 
itself among the forest growth. It is a pretty structure, erected 
by the Park Association for the use of its residents and visitors, 
where divine worship is observed in the usage of the Presbj^terian 
Church during the visiting season. As opportunity will be given 
to call at the Park on our return homeward, a nearer and more 
satisfactory view of the improvements of this magnificent summer 
resort, which are more on the other side, may be had by any one 
desiring to visit them. The next in order of the circuit of the 
pamorama before us, is a very fine summer house erected the 
present season (1881) for Mrs. LeConte, of Philadelphia. It is on 

ISLE IMPERIAL, 

which was formerly not much more than a little cluster of rocks with a 
few trees on one of them, but having been enlarged by filling between 



12 THE ISLAND WANDEEEE. 

and around them, is so finely located in front of the hotels and but 
a few hundred yards distant, as to have become one of the most 
attractive of residences. Next in order is a small cottage on 
another small Island called ' ' Maud ' ' not much more than the size 
of a city lot, and the property of Rev. F. B. A. Lewis, of Water- 
town. Miss Bullock, of Adams, owns the cottage perched on the 
cliff almost dirreotly beyond, which is on a high bluff of Wells 
Islands well named Point Lookout, as it looks out on the most 
magnificent prospect in every direction^ On the same Island not 
far above, are to be seen between the smaller Islands, some of the 
buildings of a large dairy farm of five hundred acres at which our 
cottage summer residents find it convenient to be supplied with 
milk during their stay. Nearly between the dairy buildings and 
our position 

FLORENCE ISLAND 

has a small tasty cottage owned by H. S. Chandler, Esq., under- 
stood to be connected with the "N, Y. Independent." 

RYE ISLAND 

immediately above, was cleared of its timber some years since, and 
some cultivation attempted upon it, but the effort to make it pro- 
ductive has long since been abandoned, and having ]Dartially grown 
up with young trees, is is a favorite camping ground for parties of 
young peoi)le who desire to remain in the vicinity of the village 
and hotels. It is still owned by Messrs. Walton, the original 
proprietors of all the Islands in the vicinity, who have declined for 
the present to dispose of it, though we believe they have had fre- 
quent opportunities of doing so at a large price. 

FRIENDLY ISLAND, 

which will be easily distinguished as we pass up on our course, by 
its name conspicuously painted on the steej) abattis of rock which 
fronts the channel of the river just above, is owned by some 
gentlemen in New York city, who jDurchased it some years since, 
as was understood for purposes of improvement, which for some 
reason have not been effected. 

In the interval between Rye and Friendly Islands, i)eeps out 
of the foliage where it is snugly nestled among embowering trees, 
an unpretending cottage that you would hardly observe except by 
close inspection. It is on 



THE ISLAND WANDERER. 13 

WELCOME ISLAND, 

a visit to which would charm any one who loves to look out of 
some quiet nook upon the hurry of the busy world, and be himself 
undisturbed by it. It is the property and summer residence of 
Hon, S. G. Pope, of Ogdensburg, whose taste and resources as a 
builder are amply shown in the finest structures both of simple 
cottages and more elaborate residences which grace the Islands of 
the vicinity. 

Above Welcome and Friendly Islands and in full view are the 
white cottages of 

PULLMAN ISLAND, 

which although by no means pretentious in its architectural erec- 
tions, yet from its associations is probably an object of quite as 
general interest as any in the vicinity. It is the property of Geo. 
M. Pullman, Esq. , of Sleeping Car notoriety, whose entertainment 
of Gen. Grant with a large party of friends in the summer of 1872 
has so impressed itself among the notable events of the Islands as 
not soon to be forgotten. 

THE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE U. S. 

a notable event at any time, was especially so as it occurred the 
summer preceeding the presidential election which gave Gen. Grant 
his second term of office, and was of course a matter of interest 
throughout the country. The political caldron was boiling with 
all the activity incident to the near election, and multitudes of 
patriotic citizens, to say nothing of aspiring politicians all over the 
country suddenly discovered how exceeding pleasant, convenient 
and conductive to health it might be to visit the St. Lawrence and 
go-a-fishing, for what ? may easily be conjectured. But this visit, 
whether or not it had anything to do with the next presidency, 
evidently had a great deal to do in directing public attention to 
the Islands as a delightful and accessible summer resort, and it 
probably lost none of its natural effect upon the public mind from 
the circumstance that a large party of members of the newspaper 
press, on an excursion from Watertown, where they were in atten- 
dance on an editoral convention, had been very handsomely en- 
tertained at an out door collation on the same Island, early the 
same season. 

There had for some years been a plentiful lack of accommodation 
for any very large number who might desire to spend some time 



14 



THE ISLAND WANDEEER. 



at the Islands. This year the lack, greater than ever, was demon- 
strated in a very practical way. As the immediate result, plans for 
new and larger hotels, long before talked of, found active promo- 
ters with the necessary amount of capital. The next season these 
two immense caravanseries were ready for the reception of guests, 
and since that time Alexandria Bay has been famous. Changes 
and improvements have since been continually going on, all look- 
ing particularly to the accommodation of the increasing thous- 
ands who have here annually sought health and recreation. 

m But by this time the boat will be starting — we shall soon see 
more evidences of the improvements of which we speak. As we 
pass up the River the first to claim our attention is a very neat 
cottage, or rather two of them, on a little cliff, which emerged 
from their hiding behind Friendly Island on the right. They are on 

NOBBY ISLAND, 



the property of Henry R. 
Heath,of New York city, 
and C. E. Goodwin, of 
Oneida, N.Y., who built 
here about 1873, and who 
with their many friends 
have made the Island 
merry with their annual 
gatherings. 

CHERRY ISLAND 



NOBBY inhxyu. on the left, had a small 

rougli cottage erected upon it, as early as 1860, which has been 
variously and irregularly occupied, mainly as a convenient shelter 
for camping ]3arties. This year there have been two other and 
better cottages built, the first, a large house named "Melrose 
Lodge, by parties from Chicago, socially connected with the 
Pullmans. In fact the wife of A. B. Pullman, Esq., with 
her friend Mrs. G. B. Marsh, are joint owners. The upper and 
smaller cottage is owned by Rev. Geo. Rockwell, now of Fulton, 
N. Y.. but best known in this region as for more than twenty 
years the pastor of the Reformed Church, the first organized in 
Alexandria Bay. 




THE ISLAXD WANDEREK. 



15 



jS'early opposite this we pass quite near Pullman Island. Just 
Jibove Cherry Island you mark the singular Rock known as Oven 
Island, or as some call it 

"DEVIL'S OVEN," 

which rises out of the deei^ water much in the general form of an 

old fashioned out door 
Dutch oven, and to com. 
IDlete the resemblance, has 
a large opening at the 
water level under one side, 
which is said to have been 
one of the hiding places of 
the celebrated Bill John- 
ston, who figured largely 
hereabout in the border 
troubles of 1837-38, the 
scene of whose most famous 
exi^loit we will pass by and 

by- 
Above the oven we pass 
on the left four cottages, 
two of which we can only 
name as Cuba, owned by 
W. F. Story, built about 
187G, and Wan Winet, by J. G. Hill, of Chicago, built last year. 

AVAENER'S ISLAND 

is the third, and is situated about in the centre of the channel, so 
that we pass quite near, and get a good view of the improvements. 
It is the property of H. H. Warner, a wealthy and public spirited 
citizen of Rochester, N. Y., whose name ought to be pretty well 
known, at least in this vicinity seeing that his "Safe Bitters," 
"Safe PiUs," "Safe Tonic," '" Safe Kidney Cure" and other 
"Safe" medicines are not sparingly advertised, not only in the 
newspapers generally, but especially hereabout on buildings, 
fences, and other convenient sign boards, almost everywhere except 
on his own Island. Whatever we may think of the taste or utility 
of his advertisements, Ave cannot deny that Mr. Warner has shown 
excellent taste in choosing and adorning his summer home, for he 
has here transformed what was before rather a barren and rocky 
island to a garden of beautv and attraction. 








M 2 



WARNERS ISLAND. 



THE ISLAND WAJSTDEEER. 17 

Jnst above Warner's we pass the twin Islands, Pratt and Cen- 
tennial, on the upper of which Mr. H. Sisson, of Alexandria Bay, 
has built a little cottage. All along on our right, from Pullman's 
Island up, we have been passing near the shore of Wells Island, 
which, though rock bound, and in some places somewhat precip- 
itous to some fifty or sixty feet in height, is covered generally with 
quite a considerable native forest growth. The whole frontage is 
understood to have been sold not long since by Mr. Sisson to 
parties who contemplate imx)rovement but whose work has been 
carried no further than a little cleaning up of underbrush, and en- 
couraging the proper growths. The range is terminated by a min- 
iature " Anthony's nose" of bare rock marked " Louisiana Point" 
purchased a few" years since by the Hon. Judge Labatte, of New 
Orleans, while on a visit here, with a purpose of a summer home. 
In a little bay immediately above are a few acres of smoother land, 
most of which is very prettily shaded, which has been laid out and 
mapped in small lots and designated 

"EMERALD PARK," 

and which are iinderstood to be held for sale by Mr. Sisson, at low 
rates, for the convenience of those who do not desire, or whose 
means do not permit the occupation of an entire island. 

Immediately above, and apparently adjoining, was originally a 
low island of a few acres, intersected with marsh, but having been 
improved by digging out the marsh, has been separated into a clus- 
ter of small Islets and called 

SEVEN ISLES. 

These are all covered with a young growth w^liich bids fair to 
become the loveliest of groves, shading all the narrow channels. 
A small cottage, half hid among them, is owned, as in fact is the 
whole cluster, by Hon. B. Winslow, of Watertown, now a member 
of the State senate from this district. 

In Densmore Bay, above, and some distance to the right, Mcln- 
tyre the photograph man, who makes pictures of all the islands 
and parties who desire them, has k little home cottage and picture 
factory, which he properly enough denominates 

"PHOTO." 

There are also farm houses and farms noAv on both sides, those 
on the right hand being on Wells Island, the left the main shore, 



18 THE ISLAND WANDERER. 

but it is liardly necessary to do more than to call your attention to 
the patience and economy necessary to dig a living among these 
rocks. Evidently these shores are not calculated to compete in 
corn and wheat cultivation with the prairies of the west. Never- 
theless these farmers do contrive to live very comfortably, princi- 
pally off the products of the dairy, as what land there is, not en. 
tirely unfertile, is best adapted for grazing. 

POINT VIVIAN. 

About a mile above "Warner's Island on the main, is a little 
cluster of twelve or fifteen cottages which will attract attention. 
They have been built mostly by residents of the interior of Jeffer- 
son county for the convenience of spending a few weeks of the 
warm season on the river. They purchased this wooded point, and 
have built each to please himself, and so form a little neighborhood 
where each has an independent home, but yet in the society of his 
friends. 

For the next two or three miles nothing needful of special note 
is presented. The channel is usually quite contracted, and in fact 
has the local name of the "Narrows" bat it irregularly sends off 
the branching bays on both sides some of which are hidden be- 
hind jutting points. The most beautiful of these, about thirty 
acres of excellent land, being but slightly bordered with rock, 
and covered with the original very beautiful forest growth, long 
known as "Page Point," and latterly called Grinnell Park, from its 
ownership by a gentleman of that name, is understood to have re- 
cently changed hands along with a considerable farm adjoining, 
and is soon to be, if it is not already, opened under the name of 

" CENTRAL PARK" 

for the building of cottages and summer residences. Near its west- 
ern extremity a long low building has been sometimes opened as a 
boarding house, and has this year been enlarged. 

Less than a mile above this, a very cosy summer house on a half 
acre Island at the left is the property of Rev. Henry G. Waite, 
formerly U. S. Consul to Rome,- now understood to be engaged in 
literary work in connection with some periodical publication in 
N. Y. city, who generally makes a visit of a few weeks, with fam- 
ily and friends. He calls the Island 



THE ISLAND WANDERER. 

CALUMET. 



19 



Shortly above Collins Landing the narrow channel begins to 
widen, and a num]:>er of farm houses, with a factory for Limberger 
cheese on the Wells Island side, somewhat vary the landscape. 
While the shore of AVells continues rocky, the farms on tlie main 
are now more extended and the land generally susceptible of culti- 
vation. About half a mile above the cheese factory on Wells 
Island, is the 










PEEL DOCK 

so called from the destruction of the steamer Sir Robert Peel, a well 
remembered incident of the border troubles of 1887-8, to which al- 
lusion has already been made. Not to enter at length into the 
history of those troubles, it may be sufficient to say that an abor- 
tive attempt to revolutionize the Canadas, generally known as the 
Patriot war, found many sympathizers and awakened great inter- 
est all along the border. The burning of the American steamer 
Caroline near Niagara by a band of men from Canada, while it 
aroused a general indignation throughout the States, especially in- 
tensified the excitement here, and produced a feeling difficult to 
repress. Men were enlisted, and organizations effected who threat- 
ened and in fact attempted an invasion of Canada in the interest of 



20 THE ISLAND WANDEEER. 

those who desired revolution. The particulars of the burning of 
the Peel are thus related by Mr. Hough in his history of Jefferson 
county: 

On tlie night between the 29th and 30th of May, 1838. the British steamer Sir 
Robert Peel, was plundered and burned at Wells Island, under the following circum- 
stances. * * * * She was on her way from Prescott to Toronto, with nineteen 
passengers, and had left Brockville in the evening, which was dark and rainy, and 
arrived at McDonald's wharf, on the south side of Wells Island , in the town of Clay- 
ton, at midnight, for the purpose of taking on wood. 

Threats of violence had been intimated, and before the steamer had left Brock- 
ville, it was hinted to one on board that thei'e was danger of an attack, but this- 
threat was not regarded. The passengers were asleep in the cabin and the crew had 
been engaged about two hours in taking on wood, when a company of twenty-two 
men, disguised, and painted Uke savages, and armed with muskets and bayonets^ 
rushed on board, yelling and shouting, " remember the Caroline !" drove the pas- 
sengers and crew to the shore, allowing but a hasty opportunity for removing a 
small part of the baggage, and toward morning, having cast the boat into the stream, 
to about thirty rods distance, set it on fire. The scene of confusion and alarm which 
this midnight attack occasioned among the passengers can be better imagined than 
described. 

Some of them fled to the shore in their night-clothes, and a considerable portion 
of the.baggage was lost. After the boat was fired in several places, a party includ- 
ing Thomas Scott a passenger, (a surgeon who had stayed to dress a wound) got into 
two long boats and started for Abel's Island, four miles from Wells Island, where 
they arrived about sunrise. He stated that there were twenty-two persons besides 
himself and the wounded man, in the two boats. The brigands were known to each 
other by fictitious names, as Tecumsah, Sir William Wallace, Judge Lynde, Capt. 
Crockett, Nelson, Captain Crocker, Bolivar and Admiral Beubo. Several thousand 
dollars in one package, and also smaller sums, were taken from the boat and various 
articles of clothing. The only house in the vicinity of the wharf was the wood- 
man's shanty, where the passengers found refuge until five o'clock in the morning, 
when the Oneida, Capt. Smith, came down on her regular trip, and finding the dis-. 
tressed situation of the unfortunate persons returned with them to Kingston. It is . 
said to have been the intention of those who took tlie Peel, to have captured with 
her aid the steamer Great Britian the next day, and to have cruised with thes§, 
steamers on the lake, and transport troops and supplies for the patriot service. 

The leader of this outrage was William, or as he was commonly 
called " Bill Johnson," well known on the border for his bitter 
hatred of the English and Canadian governments, and ready for 
any measure that might aid the so called "patriot" cause. So: 
far from denying, it appears that he rather gloried in the exploit. 
Of course it at once not only awakened the indignation of Canada, , 
but aroused our own government to the necessity of guarding the 
frontier and preventing a breach with the Canadian authorities. . 
Gov. Marcy, then in the executive chair of New York, himself 
visited Jefferson County and took measures to repress any further 
hostile demonstration. A large reward was offered by our own, , 



THE ISLAND WAjS^DEEER. 21 

and a larger by the Canadian executive, for the arrest of the out- 
laws, and the officials of both countries united in the effort for 
their capture, especially of Johnson. It has, however, been hinted 
that the American detail professedly engaged in this service, did 
not lose a great deal of necessary sleep by their watchfulness. 
Johnson was aided, in his hiding among the Islands, by his 
daughter, it is said in a boy' s disguise. As she was then a very 
attractive young woman, a spice of romance for a long time attach- 
ed to her adventures, and her fame as the "Queen of the Isles" 
extended through the whole region. The writer met her many 
years since at Clayton, where she was married and the mother of 
a family, who, so far as discovered, bore no esj^ecial marks of 
royal birth. She is, we believe, now dead, but some of Johnson's 
sons are living in Clayton. 

Late in the fall he was arrested by the American authorities, 
but escaped, and was re-arrested two or three times, until finally 
the border having become quiet, he returned to Clayton and was 
no more molested. Indeed, so far from the American government 
having any continued desire for his punishment, he seemed to 
meet with favor, and as probably a good democrat, was ai)pointed 
by the administration of President Pierce, keeper of the light at 
Rock Island, which shines on the very spot where the Peel was 
burned. The explanation is believed to be that he had before 
rendered effectual, though perhai^s not very reputable service, to 
the U. S. in the war of 1812, when employed as a spy, he had suc- 
ceeded in plundering the British mails of important despatches 
which he brought to the American officers at Sackets Harbor; and 
this explanation has the color of plausibility, as it is said he was 
appointed by the recommendation of Gen. Scott, who, as an officer 
of the American army, was during that war engaged in the mili- 
tary operations then in x:>rogTess upon the frontier, and probably 
knew all about Johnson's services. 

But to return to the description of our trip. Not far above the 
Peel dock we come to some recent improvements upon a cluster of 
small Islands, and on the shore of Wells, that have incidently 
grown out of the location of the Thousand Island Park, which we 
are now rapidly approaching. We cannot particularize them all. 
On the small Islands at the left are several summer residences of 
various sizes and pretensions. The nearest, " Frederick Island," 
is owned by a gentleman of that name, a merchant in Carthage, N. 
Y. The second "Occident and Orient," by a N. Y. gentleman 
named Washburn. The third is an expensive house belonging to 



22 THE ISLAND WANDERER. 

E. N. Robinson, a broker, who has been somewhat noted for large- 
operations in Wall street, where it is said he has both made and 
lost sums of money reaching into the millions, very rapidly. 
There are some two or three more distant cottages on Islands 
whose names and owners are in the list and map we use. Over 
back of these Islands is a little hamlet known as 

FISHER'S LANDING, 

where a very comfortable honse called the "Central Hotel " enter- 
tains, in a quiet way, a good many summer guests. On the Wells 
Island side we pass some clusters of cottages and one hotel, the 
"Wellesley House," before reaching the Park proper, for the 
names of whose owners we again refer to the lists on the map, at 
"Jolly Oaks" and "Waving Branches." As we turn to the 
right to make our landing at the Thousand Island Park, we pass 
the Rock Island Light House, which guards the navigator against 
several surrounding dangerous rocks and indicates the proper entry 
from the open water above into the narrower channels we have 
been ascending. Some two or three miles distant across the inter- 
vening stretch of open water above, and nearly in the centre of a 
large level Island, a large building somewhat resembling the 
Thousand Island House at Alexandria Bay, looms conspicuously 
into view. It is the 

ROUND ISLAND HOTEL 

and Round Island, of some eighty acres, is laid out as a park 
around it. Could we visit it we should find many exceedingly 
pretty cottages lining its shores. It was purchased about two 
years since and is conducted nominally in the interest of the 
Baptist denomination. It is about two miles this side of the 
village of Clayton, which it hides from our view, and being easy of 
access from the railroad at that point is quite a favorite resort for 
the denomination named and many others. Capt. Visger has often 
been importuned to extend his trip so as to make it one of the stop- 
ping places of the ' ' Wanderer, ' ' but its situation will not permit 
his doing so without sacrificing more time than can well be spared 
from the remainder of the trip. 

THOUSAND ISLAND PARK. 

Here the boat makes a stop of several minutes, and we have time 
to land and walk a little about the Park if desired, A small ad- 



THE ISLAND WANDERER. 23 

mission fee of ten cents is, we believe, charged at the gate. But 
to get a satisfactory view of the Park it would have been better to 
have come up on the morning trip and wait over, as many do, re- 
suming the excursion in the afternoon. 

We need say but a few words of this park, which has become 
one of the summer institution, of the country, and has ah'eady 
been visited by thousands, both from Canada and the U. S. It had 
its beginning in the winter of 1874-5, although by the invitation 
of its projector. Rev. J. F. Dayan, parties of ministers and others, 
chiefly members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, had the 
autumn before visited various localities of the Islands within a 
radius of several miles for the purpose of selecting a site. The 
upper end of Wells Island, on the American side, was finally chosen 
and arrangements informally commenced for its purchase. AVith 
considerable negotiation, and some hesitation in regard to the 
quantity of land needed for the success of the enterprise, the pro- 
jectors, who had during the winter effected an organization as the 
"Thousand Island Camp Meeting Association," finally purchased 
all the land in the neighborhood then open to sale, (about 950 
acres) and employed an engineer to lay it out suitably for the pur- 
poses they intended it to serve. Reserving a strip all around the 
shore, and other grounds for the public uses, a considerable space 
was marked off in avenues and lots, which were offered for sale 
the following Spring. By this time a dock for steamers, and 
various buildings for boarding hall, office, stores and some lodging 
ro(5ms to be owned and controlled by the association, were in good 
progress. By active effort, and extensive advertising, the project 
sprang into success at once. Lots were immediately and largely 
taken. Provision was made by the trustees for a series of meet- 
ings at which the ablest speakers, on religious and philanthropic 
subjects were to be heard. Soon not only the lots on the Park 
itself, but all the desirable shore property near, with the small 
Islands in the near vicinity, advanced largely in price and found 
eager buyers. Thousands became visitors, hundreds purchasers, 
and very many builders, so that there soon arose a considerable 
summer village, perhaps averaging a thousand or fifteen hundred 
inhabitants for two months in the year, and often increased to 
more than double that number on the days of especial interest in 
the meetings held. There are now probably more than two hun- 
dred buildings on the grounds most of which are private cottages. 
Some friction, of course, has occurred in the management, and 
some grumbling at the strictness of regulations made, or believed 



24 THE ISLAND WANDEEEE. 

to be necessary for tlie preservation of good order upon the 
grounds, but on the whole the institution has had a large success. 
It is, however, understood that this year there is a change in the 
management, and that still greater effort is to be made for con- 
tinuance of growth. A comfortable and commodious hotel, whose 
want has been greatly felt and often expressed by those that w^ere 
dissatisfied with the rather primitive accommodations hitherto pro- 
vided, and who were willing to pay for better, is now to be erected 
and other improvements looking to permanency and comfort. 
Hitherto the whole Park has been practically but a sort of mam- 
moth out-door hotel, where most of the guests took meals at the 
boarding hall, but very generally looked after their own lodgings 
in cottages and tents. Still, rooms were to a limited extent pro- 
vided in the upper lofts of some of the buildings, and at the same 
time, many families lived and had all arrangements for providing 
the table in their own cottage and tent homes. 

Our stay at the Park is limited to a few minutes, and after re- 
ceiving jDrobably a large addition to the number of her passengers, 
the Wanderer moves on her way. Any further information in re- 
lation to the Park is, if desired, easily accessible in some of the 
publications issued in its interest, notably in a little book entitled 
"The Thousand Island Park, its Origin and Progress," which 
may probably be found at the Book Stands, and perhaps also on 
the boat. 

From the Park Dock we move around the upper end of the 
Island, and you will not fall to notice the beautiful situation and 
ornamentation of some of the cottages nearest the river bank, along 
whose rocky but yet beautiful and level plateau shore, we pass to 
our next landing which is the 

HUB HOUSE. 

This is a fair sized hotel only a few rods distant from the Park, 
and occupying rather more than the original whole of the Rocky 
Hub on one side of which it is built. A few rods back and above 
we see Grenell's. It is on a small Island, originally a spur, but 
now separated from the larger one above, which is also owned and 
to some extent farmed by Mr. Grenell, who has resided here for 
many years, giving entertainment to a few guests perhaps in the 
rather primitive style of a country tavern. One or two cottages 
perched on high points of the larger Island may be found on the 
list in connection with our map. 



THE ISLAND WANDERER. 25 

Leaving the Hub House the boat swings around to the left to 
pass up the channel between what is marked on our map after the 
old charts as " Stuart," but which has been known as "Jeffers" 
and now commonly as GrinnelFs Island from the name of the owner. 

This constant change of the names of Islands is to be regretted 
as leading to great confusion. But it goes rai)idly on, especially 
with the smaller Islands, which, with every change of ownership, 
are apt to be baptized with new names to suit the taste of the new 
owners. But this is not all, nor the worst. Many of the larger 
Islands are given names on the charts published by authority of 
the English and American governments, entirely different from 
those in common use. This has an illustration in the Islands just 
about us. That on the left is named on the English charts ' 'Stuart, ' ' 
which was copied on the map in common use and also on the Amer- 
ican charts. The early deeds named it "Jeffers," by which it 
seems once to have been generally known. So of the Island on 
our right. It is on the charts, both English and American, as 
" Murray," but hereabout is universally called " Hemlock Island." 
It is doubtful now if any one living in the vicinity should hear of 
either "Stuart" or "Murray" Island he would know what was 
meant. 

Quite a lively controversey arose a few years since as to the 
proper name of "Wells Island."' It is marked on the charts 
" Wellesley" and on the map by both names. When the Metho- 
dist people inaugurated the Park, "Wellesley" had never been 
heard of in the vicinity. The publisher of the map, which was 
first issued the same season which opened the Park, and which was 
based on a copy of the old English charts, in this, as in several in- 
stances, inserted both names. With the names only as given in the 
chart, the map would have been of very little value, for no one here 
knew anything about them. But when the Park began to be talked 
of, some astute Methodist brother discovered that Wesley was a 
contraction of Wellesley, and of course for a Methodist Park that 
would be the right name for the Island, and great efforts were made 
to bring the longer name into use, much to the disgust of the older 
inhabitants. They had received title to their lands as "being and 
situate on Wells Island," and had no notion of giving up the title 
either to farm or Island, especially for a jaw-breaking name like 
that proposed. A good deal of discussion arose in the newspapers 
and otherwise as to the proper designation, but in the vicinity and 
among the residents at least, the new name is no go. But, say the 
Park people, "it is the old name, the charts all have it, and no 



26 THE ISLAND WANDERER. 

charfc lias the name Wells Island." The facts seem to be these. 
So long ago as 1810 or 1812, before the Islands were finally divided 
between Canada and the U. S., one William Wells, a resident of 
Brockville, was engaged in lumbering on this Island, and as is gen- 
erally the case in new countries, it took the name of its lirst occu- 
pant, and came to be known, as it always since has been in the 
neighborhood, as " Wells Island," and all the deeds of lands upon 
it are located by this name. The original patent of the Islands to 
Elisha Camp in 1823, did not menti6n any of the Islands by name, 
but simxDly conveyed all the Islands belonging to the State of New 
York, lying between certain designated points on the River. Upon 
a very old map in the possession of Messrs. Cornwall & Walton, of 
Alexandria Bay, which they received with an early purchase of 
lands upon Wells Island, and all the other small Islands lying be- 
tween certain defined points, and which is said to have been made 
for the Commissioners of the U. S. who run and established the 
boundary line, this is designated "Wells Island." The date of the 
map is lost or omitted, but it is believed to be about 1820.* 

The history and authority of the name " Wellesley" is believed 
to be simply this. About 1817 or 1818 an English oflicer, Capt. 
W. F. W. Owen, R, N,, surveyed the River, presumably by the 
authority of the British Government, and a chart was made by him 
on which were inserted names upon many points which, with a few 
exceptions, had not been before known or heard of. This is evi- 
dent from the fact that many of them were memorials of the Euro- 
pean wars, in which the English had recently been engaged. Some 
were adopted from places where important events had transpired, 
others from officers who had become distinguished. Now Capt. 
Owen had of course some show of right in giving such names as he 
pleased, so far as the English side of the boundary was concerned, 
but it may be questioned how far it was suitable or in the best taste 
to apply them upon American territory, without regard to the com- 
monly used designation of the inhabitants. But he did so very 
extensively, of which this is an example. Wellesley being the fam- 
ily name of the Duke of Wellington, the hero of Waterloo, which 
by the way is commemorated in the immediate vicinity, the beauti- 
ful and significant name of the "Lake of the Island," as aj)pliedto 

*Thls map is entitled, "A map of alltlie Islands of the Elver St. Lawrence within the State of New 
York," and Is in two large sheets, evidently made with great care, and each sheet signed, " \\'m. A. 
Bird." It Is much dilapidated by age and use, having been used through several extended law suits . 
It evidently covered originally all the Islands patented to Camp In this part of the River, which were 
those between Morrlstown and the most westerly point of Grindstone Island. 



THE ISLAND WANDEEER. 27 

the land-bound and secluded sheet which lies, as it were, in the 
bosom of this very Island and is about live-sixths surrounded by 
its shores, is on the chart changed to "Lake Waterloo." It is to 
be regretted that the U. S. officers charged with the American lake 
survey, of which the charts of this part have been recently pub- 
lished, have in so many instances followed this unauthorized Eng- 
lish nomenclature to the exclusion of names locally much better 
known. " Wells" is and was for years known and used in the 
whole region, while " Wellesley" was never heard of in the vicin- 
ity till about the time the Thousand Island Park was inaugurated, 
when it was brought into notice by a copy of one of the sheets of 
the English charts, which was borrowed and used by the gentlemen 
interested while engaged in canvassing for the beginnings of their 
enterprise, and is the same that afterward became the foundation 
for the very little map which has been so much used by visitors. 
But we are for a while about to lose sight of Wells Island, and it 
is a fit time to dismiss this wearisome discussion about the name 
into which we have been led by a desire to get the facts fully be- 
fore the public, which we believe has not before been done. 

As we pass up the channel between Grrenell's, or Jetfers, or 
Stuart Island, whichever you choose to call it, and Hemlock or 
Murray, (you see names are as plenty as the Islands) away to the 
right is the 

CLIFF HOUSE 

another small Summer Hotel, built on a high bluff at the foot of 
the Island last mentioned. It is kept by Mr. E. Garrettson, form- 
erly of the Globe Hotel in Syracuse, and is generally well patron- 
ized in the summer by guests from the Central City. Our route 
lies up near enough to the Island to catch a good view of some cot- 
tages along its shore, for the names of whose owners we must again 
refer you to the list before mentioned. Through much of this pas- 
sage the village of Clayton is in full view, being about three miles 
distant, but we soon loose sight of it as we turn short to the right, 
enter a narro^\ gap between Hemlock and Robbins Islands, and 
emerge into Eel Bay, an expanse of water some three miles in di- 
ameter, with only a few low Islands, which do not interrupt the 
view quite to the wooded shores of another part of Wells Island 
again. Our way lies pretty close along the eastern shore of 



28 THE ISLAND WANDEREE. 

GRINDSTONE 

one of the largest of the Thousand Islands, being about four or five 
miles long by two and a half wide, having on it some 200 inhabi- 
tants, who reside on farms in a fair state of cultivation, and are en- 
abled to furnish a considerable amount of supplies for the consumi3- 
tion of visitors. Passing around its northerly jpoint, which is an 
immense naked hill, bordered by a few trees toward Canada, we 
speedily enter 

CANADIAN WATERS 

which open to our view a great stretch studded with Islands and 
divided into channels in a manner to bewilder any attempt to enu- 
merate or arrange them. Hardly any of them seem to be more 
than a few acres in extent. Though generally rocky, they are 
nearly all more or less wooded, even rocks with scarce standing 
room for a man often supporting a tree or a bush to which he might 
cling in case of shipwreck. Some, however, bear evident witness of 
the destructive ravages of fire, which has often and sadly marred 
their original beauty. It evidently now 

REQUIRES SKILL TO GUIDE THE COURSE OF OUR CRAFT. 

Many channels open in every direction, but only the skilful pilot 
knows in which of them it is safe to venture. Hidden rocks abound. 
Some indeed reveal their position near the surface, when on a very 
fair day, their light brown clouds the clear green of the deeper 
water, but others lie farther down, and all the more dangerous, 
because, though unseen, they are still within reach of our keel. 
But our pilot never hesitates. He only keeps a keen eye on the 
land marks, knowing that in the right channels there is generally 
more than a hundred feet of water between us and the bottom. 
Passing through some five or six miles of such navigation, some- 
times almost shut up in the narrow passages, and again crossing 
wide stretches that are on every side broken and bounded by Islands, 
turning now to the right, and anon to the left as quickly, we wind 
torturously among the changing channels sometimes within a few 
feet of the rocky shore, until finally after a seeming exceedingly 
narrow escape from wreck upon a jutting point, we cross a not very 
wide passage opening eastward to an extensive bay, and make our 
landing at the Canadian town of Gananoque of whose steeples we 
have for some time caught occasional glimpses^between the Islands. 



THE ISLAND WANDEREK. 29 

GANANOQUE 

is the nearest Canadian town of any size, to the great body of the 
Thousand Islands. It is nearly opposite and about five miles in a 
direct line from Clayton, and ten or twelve from Alexandria Bay, 
though it requires a ferriage of nearly double that distance from 
either, on account of the winding passage made necessary by in- 
tervening Islands. It is situated at the mouth of a river bearing 
the same name, which was the original natural discharge for a 
considerable number of small lakes lying some miles to the 
Northward. The Rideau Canal, which joins the St. Lawrence at 
Kingston with the Ottawa, diverts the water from some of them 
for the use of its higher levels, so that the stream is probably not 
so large as it would be if it received all that naturally belonged to 
it. It is, however, still sufficient for moving a considerable amount 
of machinery, which is employed for llouring and saw mills and 
also for various purposes of manufacture, chiefly of nails, agri- 
cultural implements, furniture and various hardware supplies. 
The dam which gives the fall is situated in the village, above wh ich 
the stream is navigable for skiffs, with only one other portage, 
fifteen or twenty miles to some of the lakes which are its sources 
of supply. As these abound with fish and game they are often 
visited by sportsmen from the American side, who report the lakes 
to be of great beauty, and the sport, both in hunting and fishing, 
excellent. 

Gananoque has a population of about three thousand inhabi- 
tants, with five churches of different denominations. There are 
several hotels where sportsmen on the river occasionally stop, as 
the fishing in front is said to be the best in the St. Lawrence, but 
there has been no sustained effort to direct attention to it, as a 
place of summer resort, and the sportsmen who frequent its waters 
are mostly in parties from Clayton, Alexandria Bay and other 
places on the American side. The Grand Trunk Railroad passes 
and has a station about two and one-half miles North of the town, 
but the principal business access has hitherto been by the Steam- 
boats navigating Lake Ontario, which call here on the passage up 
or down the river. 

LEAVING GANANOQUE 

our course is at first over a considerable stretch of open water, 
across which the Gananoque channel, so called, is marked by a 
light house and beacon, known as "Jack Straw." These serve 



30 THE ISLAND WAISTDEEER. 

both to mark liidden shoals and as a guide for the egress of ^the 
navigator across, and out of the apparently land-locked sheet of 
water which stretches away on both sides. After passing between 
the light and beacon, our boat leaves the usual channel, which we 
can see marked by another light off to the right, and plunges into 
the depth of 

HALSTED'S BAY, 

where seemingly there is no way, and which is to all appearances 
completely shut in. When after passing dangerously near some 
small rocky inlets, we seem within a few rods of landing upon a 
low rocky point directly in front, a sudden turn to the right opens 
a straight but narrow estuary along which we obtain a clear view 
a mile or more directly ahead. What had before api^eared in a 
solid mass as a continuous point of the main land, melts into an 
Island cluster, among which, as we progress, we catch glimpses of 
varied and intricate channels in every direction. From the con- 
tracted channel along which we now sail, other passages open and 
mingle in a labyrinth seemingly almost interminable. Once al- 
most grazing a round rock that rises on our left much in the shape 
of a hay- cock and not much larger, we almost instinctively listen 
for the shock of the boat striking as she passes. But our course 
is straight on, though in a channel often exceedingly narrow 
but almost as direct as a surveyors line, till finally emerging from 
a strait between two high rocks, where one could easily toss a peb- 
ble to either shore, we enter the more open and usual channel 
where a sharp turn to the left shows us a light house about two 
miles ahead, a wide stretch of water dotted with Islands all about, 
but no visible opening through the forest covered, rock bound 
land, which to all appearance completely blocks the way. Wells 
Island lies at the right, the Canadian main at the left, on both of 
which a few scattered farm houses and fenced lields betoken partial 
cultivation. Just before reaching the light house a little cluster 
of Islands appear on the right, and just past these the shore of 
Wells Island rapidly recedes, and appears to meet the land from 
below at an exceeding rocky and precipitous part near the end of 
a narrow bay. No definite opening is here visible, in that direcr 
tion, but a reference to the map shows a narrow passage, which is 
really not more than a man's long leap across. It is the 



THE ISLAND WANDEREE. 



31 



INLET TO THE LAKE OP THE ISLAND, 



down whiVli 



water rushes with a current sufficient to turn a 



mill, which 

might there be 
built with one 
end each in 
Canada and the 
State of New 
York, and not 
be a very large 
mill either. — 
The magnifi- 
cent cluster in 
front and on 
both sides is 
considered one 
of the finest, if 
not the very- 
finest in the St. 




"zrsi 



Lawrence. The islands are generally well wooded, and you will think 
them gems of the best water. The entire Canada water at this 
point is not much more than a mile in breadth, and gradually con- 
tracts for about one and a half miles, and in that space are about 
eighty Islands, some of which are of considerable size, and in partial 
cultivation. They seem as if placed here for the express puri)ose 
of danmiing the stream and disputing the passage of the water, 
which however finds its way in many narrow and intricate passages, 
generally with a rapid current, to the o^Den water below. From 
the broad channel in which we have been sailing, we enter a 
narrow pass of troubled waters, between the beetling bluffs of ' 'Ash 
Island'' and Lyndoc light house, situate on a small Island of not 
more than one acre. Our way is for a short space between these 
almost perpendicular rocks crowned with forrest growth on one 
side, and Islands of the greenest and freshest foliage on the other. 
A little white cottage, the residence of the light keeper, shows 
itself like an apparition and vanishes like magic. We catch 
glimpses of little sj^ots of beauty which change and are renewed 
like the pictures of a kaleidoscope. A mile of such sailing from 
the light house, and the boat swings again to the right and enters 
a narrow strait, whence for a moment she emerges at the end of a 
broad sheet, bounded by Islands which are covered by a forest 



32 THE ISLAND WANDEREE. 

growth of the greenest verdure, but only immediately with another 
sharp turn in the contrary direction to enter with the seething cur- 
;rent into another and narrower strait, where you are almost 
startled with the appearance of a little Island right under the bow, 
past w^hich the water is rushing as from a broken milj. dam. This 
is the vicinity of the 

FIDDLER'S ELBOW 

probably so called from the sudden and rai)id turns necessary to 
its navigation, and is probably more celebrated for its marvelous 
loveliness than any other portion of the St. Lawrence. Its numer- 
ous and intricate channels and hidden recesses are only known to 
the most experienced boatmen and fishermen. Capt. Visger we 
perceive has given this particular part of his trip the name of the 

LOST CHANNEL. 

What particular private information the Capt. may possess of its 
former navigation is more than we are able to divine. The only 
record of its use, which, after long research, we have discovered is 
in the account of the celebrated voyage of Ca]3t. Jasper Western, 
who must have passed through it in die noted expedition of the 
" Scud," from Oswego, for the relief of the log fort that was 
hidden among the Islands as far back as the time of the Pathfinder 
in the old French war, for the particulars of which, with the ac- 
count of its discovery and capture by a party of Indians under the 
renowned French Captain, Mons. Sanglier, we refer to the most in- 
teresting and romantic histories of the life of Leather-stocking, the 
border scout, written by Mr. Fennimore Cooper. It will be re- 
membered by those familiar with those most veracious 'chronicles 
that after the re-capture, which was successfully effected by the 
skill of the Pathfinder, aided by the prompt re-appearance of Capt. 
Western in the " Scud," the fort was abandoned and the military 
defences destroyed, as no longer of value. It is of course to be in- 
ferred that at the same time all knowledge of the proper approaches 
was purposely lost, and we surmise it has never since been discovered 
till Capt. Visger in his zeal for exjoloration of all the hidden recesses 
of the Islands for the delectation of his passengers, searched it 
out in his steam yacht, the "Wanderer." It is almost certain 
that the block-house fort must have been somewhere in this 
vicinity, from the very sufficient reason that no other is so admir- 
ably adapted to the purpose for which it was built, and no other 



THE ISLAND WANDERER. 33 

has ever been discovered, and here it is certain that neither the 
French Captain nor even his Indian allies would ever have found 
it but for the rascally treachery of Lieutenant Muir, an English 
officer who accompanied the expedition with the real design of 
betraying it to the French, but covered his nefarious purpose with 
the pretense of making love to Mabel Dunham, the i3retty daugh- 
ter of the Sergeant in command of the party. It is to be regreted 
that no amount of research has yet discovered the ruins of the 
log fort, or exactly identified the spot where these notable events 
transpired, arid it is hereby suggested that a promising field is 
here opened for the labors of amateur antiquarians, where more 
minute researches might be as amply rewarded as were those of 
Jonathan Oldenbuck in his famous explorations of the Kaim of 
Kinprunes.* 

As we emerge from the cluster of the ''Fiddler's Elbow" we 
come into view of Grenadier Island Light House, the same seen at 
Alexandria Bay before starting. A few houses and fences are to 
be seen ujDon the shore of " La Rue," the large Canadian Island at 
the right, but the main, which is now visible on the left,is high and 
in many places precipitous. Only a single house with a dock on 
which is piled wood, ready corded, for sale to passing steamers, re- 
lieves the almost unbroken wilderness shore. Just below this, 
which is Darling's wharf, the Capt., if the day is sufficiently quiet, 
will let you hear a 

VERY DISTINCT AND DISTANT ECHO 

produced evidently by the return of the sound of his whistle from 
the perpendicular rock just opposite. 

Along down this usual Canadian channel, past both La Rue 
and Club Islands, some signs are manifest of the cultivation of the 
land in small patches between the rocks on both sides of us. 
Swinging short around the foot of Club Island, in front of a little 
Canadian hamlet very appropriately named Rockport, we soon 
leave Canadian waters, and catch a view of several cottages and the 
Hotel on 

*NoTE. We are most happy to announce to tlie sight seeing public, that Capt. visger has 
promised that no pains shall be spired In searching out the precise locality of the ruins above referred 
to, and that when found it shall certainly be brought within the route of his Steamer, and not only 
distinctly marked on eveiy map, but particularly pointed out to every passenger who takes the least 
Interest in identifying It. 



34 THE ISLAND WANDEBER. 

WESTMINSTER PARK, 

at whose dock we make our last landing before returning to Alex- 
andria Bay. The name is at once suggestive of something Presby- 
terian, but we can assure the reader that there is nothing unpleas- 
antly ' ' blue' ' about this Park. The association was formed princi- 
pally by gentlemen in sympathy with the Presbyterian church, 
but its gates are always freely wide open to every one. The organ- 
ization was formally effected and land purchased in September, 
1877, and during the fall of that year work was commenced in 
clearing and opening avenues through the dense forest growth 
which covered a large part of the grounds. Lots were laid out, and 
a considerable number sold in the spring of 1878, at which time a 
hotel was erected and the Park opened to public use. Its growth 
has not been so rapid as that of the Thousand Island Park, having 
lacked the concentration and energy of denominational purpose 
which characterized the other. Whether it is because Presbyteri- 
ans have not the push and energy, and combined effort, and shout- 
ing power of their Methodist brethren, or because they are natur- 
ally slower and more conservative, we do not i)retend to decide. 
Little effort has ever been made here in the way of inaugurating 
meetings, and bringing noted speakers to draw the crowds, only a 
Sunday school convention for a week having been held in 1879. 
The trustees have rather sought to make it a place where individ- 
uals and families who desire may find and enjoy a quiet home, 
with abundant room to ramble, or ride through the extensive aven- 
ues for which purpose carriages are at hand for those who desire 
to use them. 

The grounds have been opened but just sufficiently to develop 
the possibilities of the future. They afford views of forest and 
water in every conceivable variety, and on the higher points, of 
great extent. The growth has been considerable, solid, and of good 
material, but from the great extent of the grounds is not so obvi- 
ous at a single glance as if the improvements were more concentra- 
ted. Some fine cottages and residences have been built, which with 
the Park House, generally accommodate a population of several 
hundreds during the summer months. This year several cottages 
have been built or are in course of construction on prominent 
joints some of which are large and expensive. The trustees have 
large faith that this is yet to be the Park of the Thousand Islands. 
In its natural features, and the great variety of its surface and 
scenery it is thought by some much to resemble the great Central 
Park of New York city, but the large circuit of its water boundary 



THE ISLAND WANDERER. 35 

and the greater height of its eminences, and rocky precipices, with 
the great extent and variety of its natural forest growth, give it the 
advantages of mingled and various views of land, water and foliage 
nowhere else to be seen except among the Thousand Islands of the 
St. Lawrence. While the boat lies a few minutes at the wharf, we 
may call at the Park House, stroll about some of the nearest 
avenues, and so get a glimpse of some of the cottagas embowered 
among the trees, but fully to exj)lore them all, needs a day, or at 
least several hours, when as we walk or ride, each new turn will 
reveal new and differing phases of natural loveliness. 

Leaving the dock at Westminster Park our course is at first 
along its northerly shore, a rocky bluff of some forty or fifty feet 
in height, upon whose summit may be seen some elegant resi- 
dences but half hidden in the forest which crowns it. Doubling the 
Cape at the foot of Wells Island, we turn our prow in the direction 
of Alexandria Bay, of whose immense Hotels, especially the impos- 
ing front and tower of the Thousand Island House, we have at 
intervals caught sight, since rounding the lower end of Club Island, 
opposite Rockport. We get a distant view of several fine places 
to the eastward, which are on a cluster of small Islands known as 
^' the chain,'' ^ some of which are built upon and improved. The 
finest places are probably those of H. A. Packer, and Robert Pack- 
er, sons of the late Asa Packer, president of the Lehigh Valley 
R. R. and Coal company, and largely connected with the Coal and 
Iron interests of Pennsylvania. These gentlemen have expended 
large sums in building and beautifying their Islands. Among the 
ornamental structures is a very fine Iron bridge joining two of their 
Islands, under which the smaller class of our steam yachts pass 
freely, and which is reported to have cost not less than five thou- 
sand dollars. 

The view of these places is however too distant to be perfectly 
satisfactory, unless as is sometimes the case, when time permits, 
Capt. Visger passes round that way to give his passengers an op- 
portunity for a nearer inspection. In that case also we should 
find other and quite extensive improvements in the neighborhood, 
notably on "Summerland," the largest Island of this cluster. This, 
which contains about fifteen acres, has been purchased by a com- 
pany of gentlemen mostly from Rochester, N. Y., who have 
already erected twelve or fifteen cottages, and more are in contem- 
plation. 

At our left as we pass up, and somewhat nigher than the 
" Chain" we get a good view of 



36 



THE ISLAND WANDEEEE. 




.£.HcJjt£M^»/,fe- 



- ' FAIRY LAND, 

an Island of some twenty acres, 
on which the Haydens, father 
and sons, of Columbus, Ohio, 
have made and are constantly 
adding to improvements upon 
their summer homes, of an ex- 
tent and variety no where else |^ 
surpassed in this vicinity. Three » 
line residences front the water, \ 
whose surroundings have been \ 
beautified with an untiring; care, - 




\^jiaa^^ 



and at an expense which must have already reached far into 
the thousands. Boat houses, yacht houses and other con- 
veniences for the enjoyment of life upon the river, are by the water 
side, while a fine tower for outlook, surmounted by a flag staff, 
crowns the summit, and windmills raise the water from the river 
into tanks, whence it is distributed for irrigating lawns, and the 
supply of every conceivable want. 

Our trip now draws to a close. We pass nigh the foot of 
"Plantaganet," best known here as "Steamboat Island," on 
which is a small hunting and fishing lodge owned by A. E. Hume, 
Esq., an English gentleman of leisure and sporting tastes, who is 
said to have been somewhat engaged in business at Charleston, S. 
C, but who has for some years almost made his home in the 
vicinity of Alexandria Bay. Shortly beyond this we pass quite 
near enough for a good view of "Manhattan," Judge Spencer's 



THE ISLAND WAISTDEEER. 37 

elegant summer home, before referred to. We obtain a distant 
view of "Long Branch," owned by Mrs. Clark, of Watertown, who 
visits and entertains hosts of friends here, and nearer, of "Point 
Marguerite, " the summer place of E. Anthony, Esq. The latter 
gentleman has here about twenty acres of land lying contiguous to 
the shore, where he indulges his taste for country life in directing 
the cultivation of garden and grounds. He is however, better 
known among photographic and picture men, as an early 
discoverer and successful operator in photography, and edits 
a monthly journal devoted to it. He probably made some of 
the first, perhaps the very first sun pictures ever produced in 
America. He is now the head of the oldest and most extensive 
house in the country for the supply of materials to that line of art. 
We pass quite near the light house and directly in front of 
"Bonnie Castle," landing in good time, and with an appetite 
sharpened for supper by the bracing and life giving breezes of the 
St. Lawrence. 

The trip has given us all a rare and inexpensive treat, not soon 
to be forgotten, and we instinctively resolve to repeat it at the first 
favorable opportunity. 




ADVERTISEMENTS. 



COlffALL BROTHEBS' TICKET AGEiT 




Tickets for Montreal, Quebec, Todousac, Ha Ha Bay, Gulf Ports, Halafax, St. 
Johns. Portland, Boston, White Mountains, Lakes Champlain and George, Saratoga, 
New York and aU points east and west, sold at 

LOWEST EXCURSION RATES. 

Secure your tickets before taking the steamers and save the difference between 

Local and Excursion Rates. 

OFFICE HT STONE STORE. 8TEAMEB8 LANDING. 

Also AGENTS AMERICAN EXPRESS CO., and Dealers in 

Fishing Tackle, Camp and Island & General Merchandise. 



TIME OF DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL OF BOATS : 

Leave for the East and West, 6.00 a.m., 8.00 a.m., 1.55 p.m., 3.10 p.m. 

Arrive at Utica 2.20 p.m., and 9.20 p.m.; Albany 5.25 p.m., 1.45 a.m.; New 
York 10.30 p.m., 7.15 a.m.; Saratoga 6.00 p.m.; Boston 9.30 p.m.; Syracuse 1.10 p. 
m., 9.30 p.m.; Buffalo 8.00 p.m., 8.25 a.m.; Detroit 7.15 a.m., 6.30 p.m.; Chicago 
4.20 p.m., 6.30 a.m. 

Leave for Montreal at 7.15 a.m., 7.30 a.m. Arrive at Montreal 6.30 p.m. Leave 
for Ogdensburg 7.15 a.m. Arrive at Ogdensburg 9.30 a.m. 

Arrive at Alexandria Bay from the east and west 11.45 a.m., 1.05 p.m., 6.45 p. 
m,, 8.00 p.m.; Montreal 1.30 p.m., 7.00 p.m.; Ogdensburg 7.00 p.m. 

ST£AM£R "ISLAND WANDERER" 

leaves for a forty mUe trip among the Islands at 8.15 a.m. and 2.00 p.m., returning 
at 12.00 m. and 6.00 p.m. 



DISTANCE§ FROM ALEXANDRIA BAT 



To Niagara Falls 250 miles 

Montreal 167 " 

Watertown 28 " 

Ottawa 88 " 

White Mountains 267 " 

Portland 494 " 

Saratoga, via Montreal 379 " 



To Oswego 100 miles 

New York, via Montreal. .350 

Brockville 24 

Plattsburg. . .via Montreal 249 

Quebec 347 

Albany, via Montreal 417 

Boston, via Portland 647 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



?^5ss^^^?r' 



THE gROmON; ~ ALEXANDRIA MliTK 




THE FINEST HOTEL ON THE ST. LAWRENCE RIITIF. 

lighted with Gas, Contain. Elevators and all the Modem In^provement.. Send fo.^ 

Illustrated Pamphlet, Free. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 




Located on Westminster Park^ 

at the foot of WELLS ISLAND, is in the very midst of the Thousand Islands, and 
affords more extended views of the great 

ST. LAWEENCE RIYEE 

than can be obtained from any other point in this delightful region. It is 
arranged with special reference to the wants of those who appreciate 



and its surroundings combine the best features of life among the mountains, 
on the farm, and at the sea shore. 




The Park, wliich (SomniuiiiGates witb ilex, Bay 

BY STEAM FERRY EVERY FEW MINUTES, 

embraces Five Hundred Acres of finely-timbered land, laid out in elegant drives and 
shady promenades. It is bounded on three sides bv water. NO LIQUOR IS SOLD 
ON THE PREMISES. There is a good beach for bathing near the House, and from 
the summit of Mount Beulah, just in the rear of the Hotel, may be seen more than 
100 Islands. It is undoubted!}^ the veiy best fishing ground in the country, and no 
one who spends a summer at Westminster Park fails to come again. 

Terns, $2,00 per Oay, $10,00 lo $12,00 per Week foi tiie Season, 

Address 

R, F. STEELE, Proprietor, Alexandria Bay, N. Y. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



CENTEAL PAKK. 



This place of summer resort is located on a peninsula off the main land, midway 
between THOUSAND ISLAND PARK and Alexandria Bay. It is on the 
cool side of the channel and is always 



in the warmest weather. It is believed any person who will visit and look this 
Park over will be satisfied there is no place like it on the river. The Park contains 
some fifty acres or more, nicely shaded, has lately been purchased, and is now owned 
and conducted by the 

^^"gENTRALPARK ASSOCIATION,":^-- 

is under the control of no religious denomination, its Officers and Owners belong- 
ing to various churches. It is designed not as a religious or semi-reUgious place of 
resort, but as a place purely for rest and pleasure, during the heated term of the year. 
The Association has caused the Park to be laid out in avenues, public grounds and 
cottage lots, a 

DlNING^ HA.LL 

has been erected and is now being run for the accommodation of guests, visitors 
and cottage owners, who do not desire to be troubled with providing their own 
board at their cottages. Rooms for the accommodation of those who have no cot- 
tages are also provided at Dining Hall and cottages connected therewith. The Park 
is now 




and all are invited to visit it and enjoy the cool retreat, to look over the lots and 
purchase one or more if they desire. There are over a hundred lots laid out and 
ready for sale, of all kinds, location and prices, 

Besifles a SilB for a Larp fc Hotel ! 

and several acres of land peculiarly appropriate for picnics and public gatherings. 
Any boat that travels the river can land its passengers at the wharf at the upper end 
of the Park. The Park is connected with the highway of a good drive, and is ot 
easy access to those desiring to visit it with their own conveyances, tor turtner 
particulars enquire at the Park, or address the Officers at Watertown, N. 1. 

W. G. WILLIA3IS, ROSELL H. HALL, 

Secretary and Treasurer. President. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



CMPMAS'S BAITS m FISHIBG TACKLE 

This house has now the facilities both as to 
MANUFACTURING AND IMPORTING, SECOND TO NONE IN THE TRADE, 



CO* 



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And as to prices, we can 



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COMPETE WITH THE LOWEST 



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ADVERTISEMENTS. 



THE PALArE DAY STEAMERS OF THE 

ST. LAWRENCE STEAMBOAT CO. 




w _. 

"v'V 

" THE NEW AMERICAN MNE," will run as follows : 

lieave NIAGARA FALI^S daily, except I I,eave CLAYTON claily, except 

Saturday 7.45 p m. | Sundays 6.30 a.m. 

Arrive CAPE VINXENT 6.30 a.m. | " ALEX. BAY. " 7.15 " 

I^ave CAPE VINCENT daily, except | •' OGDEN.SnURG, " 9.30 " 

Sunday 5.45 " I '< MOKKI.SBURG, " 10.30 '« 

I Arrive Ml NTREAL, 6.30 " 

PASSING THOUSAND ISLANDS, AND SHOOTING THE RAPIDS BY DAYLIGHT. 

BAGGAGE CHECKED THROUGH BY THIS LINE. 

CORNWALL BROS., Agfts., Alexandria Bay. C. A. MERRIMAN, Agt., Ogdensburg, N. T. 
C. E. BENEDICT. Agt., Saratoga Springs. 

HARRY A. CALLAN, Pass. Agent, G. LEVE, General Passenger Agent, 

Niagara Falls. 202 St. Jamea St.., Montreal. 

ROBERT m. FERRIS, manager, Alexandria Bay, N. Y. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



Reasons Why Everybody Should Trade at 





f« 



GRAND EMPORIUM. 



1st. They have the largest store in the village and carry the largest stock and great- 
est variety of goods, consisting in part of 

DOMESTIC MD FMCY DBT GOODS ! 

Furniture, Hats, Caps, Clothing, Boots and Shoes, Hardware and Crockery, Drugs, 
Medicines, Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Town and Country Ready Mixed Paints, 



on draught from one of Mathews" Best Fountains. Choice Groceries, Provisions, 
"Wines, Liquors and Cigars, Confectionery, &c. , &c. 



2d. 



They employ only experienced, competent and 



GENTLEMANLY SALESMEN ! 

■who will not misrepresent the quality of the goods they sell. 



3d. 



They deem it a pleasure to show their goods and 



COfiOIALL! INVITE THE PUBLIC TO CULL AiO SEE THEM, 



4th. They will not be undersold by any other House on the same quality of goods. 

ALEXANDRIA BAY, June, 1881. 

N. B.— They also have a fexr Desirable Points and 
Islands for Sale. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



*t« towreEce M^mb 



Situated in the immediate center of Alexandria Bay, surrounded on either side and 
within a stone's throw of the water. 

m CHEAPEST m MOST CONVENIENT NOOSE IN THE VILLAGE, 

with sufficient capacity to comfortably accommodate 125 Persons. Newly fur- 
nished and COMPLETELY RENOVATED in every particular, and supplied with 
aU the MODERN IMPROVEMENTS. 



Ap A O "n THE confidence inspired by the signal success with which our 
^-^ l-tl/, former efforts have been appreciated, has prompted us to spare 
neither time, pains, nor money to add to the comfort of those who lend their pa- 
tronage. We have, with great expense, newly furnished, papered and painted 
every room throughout. We have enlarged our dining-room to a seating capacity 
of 125 persons, and added .$2,000 to the stocking of our wine vault, tlius defying 
competition in the CHOICEST and CHEAPEST selections of WINES, LIQUORS 
and CIGARS. We have the only complete LIVERY and BOARDING STABLES 
in the village, our aim is and has been to furnish equally as good accommodations 
as any other house in the village, and at 30 per cent, less than any other house* 
How well wo have succeeded you must be the judges on the occasion of your visits. 
With the hope of a fair share of your patronage, we remain. 

The public's obedient servants, 

HADSEL & WILMOT. 



THE PEOPLE'S PRICES, $1.50 to $2.00 PER 



ACCORDING TO LOCATIOX. 



Special Rates Given to Families and Parties Consisting of More ttian Five. 



p. 0. Address, HADSEL & WILMOT, 

ALEXANDRIA BAY, 

JEFFERSON" CO., N. Y. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



TM Imtemati®ffliilH©tel, 

GANANOQUB, Ont. 

J. J. PA-RMEISTTEE, Proprietor. 



This new elegant and commodious hotel is now open for the accommodation of 
guests and visitors, and whether on business or pleasure, they will find it the most 
comfortable and convenient stopping place in Gananoque. The hotel is 






on the square, facing the bridge, within two minutes walk of the Island Wanderer's 
dock, contiguous to the Post Office, Telegraph Office and principal places of busi- 
ness. Most of the windows command munificent views of the river and Islands. 
The International is entirely new in every respect, and has been 



in the best style with all modern conveniences. Electric Bells, &c., &c. The 
BiUiard Room contains two of the most improved tables with patent steel cushions. 
The sample rooms for commercial men are large and airy. The table will be sup- 
plied with the 



BEST OF EVERYTHING 



the market affords. Excursionists by the Island Wander can remain over at Ganan- 
oque from the morning till the afternoon trip or as long as they wish, and finish the 
trip on the same ticket, and those that do so may depend on receiving every atten- 
tion at the International. 

First-Class boats and Oarsmen may be obtained on application at the office, 
and fish packed and shipped to all points. Fishermen, Sportsmen, pleasure-seekers 
and invalids in persust of health will find the International the desired place. 

CHARGES MODERATE. 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



GENUINE SCOTCH TWEED SUITS. 

Gentlemen passengers by the ISLAND WANDERER, who avail themselves of the privilege of 
stopping off at Gananoque, between the morning and afternoon trips of the steamer, should not fall 
to visit the 

The largest retail place of business In the town. While the stock embraces almost every class of 
goods, systematically arranged In departments. Those most likely to Interest our American visitors 
are our 

IMPORTED WOOLENS, 

Embracing selections of English, Scotch, Welsh, Irish and Domestic Tweeds, Fine Worsteds, &c., Ac. 
These goods we sell either by the yard, or make up to order at from $15.oo to $24.00 per suit, prices ful- 
ly 50 per cent, lower than the same class of goods would cost In the United States. 

None but First-Class Worben Enplojedi Cut, Make, Fit and Stjie Guaranteed. 
ALL WOOL, ELACK FRENCH CASHMEEES, 

50 cents to 100 per yard, Splendid Value, Superior Dye and Finish The West End store Is only two 
minutes walk from the dock, opposite the International Hotel, at the west end of the bridge. 

The proprietors will be pleased to have excursionists by the Wanderer call and examine thestocfe 
whether they purchase or not. 

ATv. :bi=lot:jc3-i3: cb soisr. 



•AMttY SIJ] 



The cheapest Variety Store on the river. Our goods are bought at the lowest notch 
consequently we can sseU at a reasonable profit. We are stocked with the choicest 

Teas. Coffees, Siars, Flours, Oat Meal 

and everything pertaining to the camping line. We offer the best 

CANNED FRUIT 

in the. market. Our Tobacco and Cigars cannot be exceeded by cheapness 

and quaUty. 

IMPORTED CHINA AND CROCKERY A SPECIALTY. 

DRESSED POULTRY, 

and all the Vegetables in season. Remember our location, head of Walton street, 
Alexandria Bay. 

p. S.— Great care given to the fulfillment of family 
orders, 



ADVERTISEMENTS. 



CENTENNIAL HALL, 

A. C. McINTYRE&Co., 

A-lexandria Bay, River St. La^wrence. 



New and attractive views of the 1000 Islands, wholesale and retail. 

STEREOSCOPIC VIEWS MOUNTED or UNMOUNTED 

Also Views varying in size from 4x7 to 16x20. 



PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN TO ORDER. 

Parties desirous of going to the Islands for the purpose of having groups taken 
will be conveyed there and back, free of charge, by steamer Idle Wild. Also 



n^' 



The leading New York Dailies and Illustrated papers. 



FRUITS AND CONFECTIONERY 

This Department will be kept up in a Superior Style to any previous season, 
having increased facilities for the fresh supply of the same 

Soods Deliiered to Islands wl]ere Parties Desire it 



A varied assortment of 



K^JNCY GJ^OODS! 

Including Bird Fans, Coon Head Chatelines, Eustic Work, &c., &c., Rustic 
Garden Chairs, Vases and Baskets, &c., a specialty. 

A. C. MelNTYRE, Centennial Hall, 

Alexandria Bay, N. Y. 



LIBRfiRY OF CONGRESS 

IIIHIIIIII 



niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiillllllilllilllill 
014 222 494 P 



ALEXANDRIA BAY, N. K 



'■''MfE^- 




THE LARGEST HOTEL 0]V THE RIVER. 

LIGHTED WITH ELECTRICITY, 

ELEVATOR, AND ALL MODERN IMPROVEMENTS. 

BEND FOR FREE GUIDE BOOK. 



